Friday, November 14, 2008

Ginko Trees Performing

There is quite a show going on at the city park where we walk Luna. Even on this dreary overcast day and after almost 2 inches of rain the golden blanket the ginko trees has laid down is still beautiful. The Ginko trees are celebrating another succcessful season of life. You can see here in the following photo the fruits of their endeavors. I have often thought of these fruits as looking like persimmons. It is too bad you can't eat them. This tree is so prolific. It must be so prolific because its mate is so close to it. The male tree is the big fat tree in the back and the female bearing all this fruit is in the foreground.The trees around the ginkos try their best to out shine the ginkos.

Even though they are quite striking in their fall finery.

It is hard to outshine this carpet of gold.

The golden yellow almost matches the color of the childrens slide in the background. Now that is some yellow.

Having one of these living fossils in your garden would be wonderful if you have room for it. You can go here to read more about it. It seems that they turn yellow and then drop their leaves all at one time. A beautiful sight. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

33 comments:

The Gingko trees are one of the outstanding trees for fall color. I advise people to get a male tree if at all possible, as the fruit is rather foul smelling... but the seeds are edible. I read on another blog somewhere how to prepare them for roasting... now, I wonder which blog that was...

They are very cool trees Lisa! I love their fan-shaped foliage. I have to agree with Carol about the fruit - VERY stinky! There's a park nearby here with some really pretty landscaping. Ginkos are planted at the entrance. Once the fruits start ripening and falling to the ground. . . eeeooow! It's quite a foul smell! My grandson calls it the Stink Tree Park.

The carpet of gold is fantastic...I agree it is hard to find a better looking gold then ginko in the fall. There are one or two someplace in our neighborhood...because I see a leaf here and there on my walks. thanks, lisa for the walk in the park to see these lovely tres in color!

Lisa. I have always liked the Ginko trees. Probably because their leaves make them easily identifiable.:)I've never seen one have fruit though and didn't know the male-female thing. Not as samrt as I thought I was! They do have a wonderful fall color and as you say can brighten up the most dreary of days. Thanks for the lovely walk and all the info. Have a great weekend.

I loved these photos, Lisa! This is one tree we don't have in our yard. They're not that common around here, although you will find some. I always liked their fan-shaped leaves. Thanks for showing what they look like in the fall, especially the fruit which I've never seen before. How cool is it that they drop all their leaves at once--does this mean it's finally winter??

Dear Lisa,They are fantastic. Evem with your dry conditions the Ginko seems to be doing just fine. I read that there is a hormone that the trees release that says,"Drop the leaves!" Wouldn't it be incredible to be under the Gingo when the leaves began to fall?This is a beautiful park you walk in. All the trees look fantastic. Glad you had some rain too. May you also have a grand weekend.Sherry

Carol, that is interesting becasue I have never heard of anyone eating the seeds. I think the fruit is a pretty peachy color. I can't say I have smelled it. Hmmmmmm More than one person has alluded to the stink. I must be showing my age since I haven't smelled it. Maybe it will stink when the fruits start to fall and ferment.

Randy, the verdict is in...the fruit stinks.

Sherry, I would love to be there to see, hear and feel the leaves falling. I wonder if they do it under cover of night??

Annie, the children around here still have to collect leaves for one of their biology/science projects. This park is good for that project because they have signs by several of the trees telling what they are.

I've never seen Ginko fruits. There are a lot of them around here, but they are all male. When I was walking my daughter home from school last week, we passed a mature Ginko in full color. We each stopped to pick up a leaf. They are my absolute favorites.